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A proposed Rule Six was in the inbox. Presented for your consideration only, not a part of the philosophy of the church.
Rule Six
6. If suffering is witnessed and it can be relieved it is obligatory, morally, to do so. (Except, of course, if the consequence of relieving that suffering is deeper suffering elsewhere.)
Animals can suffer, hence, Be Kind to Animals. Be humane.
Gaia can suffer. This small blue marble, this lonely tininess in the immensity of space, this island of where life like us can live, this whole earth -- Gaia -- can suffer. Hence: Be Kind to the Environment.
Even minor suffering -- like taking offense -- should be relieved if it is "no big deal."
We can only recognize suffering if we have empathy. A level of empathy is built-in. It can be trained in childhood. Evil people had bad training. Good people had good training. It is through empathy that one sees Goodness in the Golden Rule.
Are you one of the Good people? If you are, you evaluate the training you received as Good. You use the model of your trainers (usually parents) and recreate that training with your own children. This is the Faith of my Fathers tradition. You say: It worked quite well, thank you, and I, myself am an example of the kind of folk that are Good. Even from utilitarian viewpoint religion is good, how about that!
Religion is not dangerous, does not lead to suffering, among Good people regardless of their faith. I conclude that faith cannot matter -- among the Good. But among the Evil it is quite another thing altogether.
Religion is dangerous, does lead to suffering, when Evil people are among the Good. I conclude that faith can matter -- when there is a mix of Good and Evil. Religion is dangerous in the world as it is where there really is Evil about.
It is obligatory to relieve suffering when the result is lesser suffering in toto.
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